Breaking Down the Delta and KLM Partnership

With Delta-KLM's partnership, customers will experience seamless travel and benefit from frequent flyer benefits that go beyond simply discounted tickets.

SkyMiles redemption options have expanded significantly over time, especially to South America. Last minute award seats to Brazil can often be found for reasonable prices on LATAM and offer excellent MQD earning rates.

1. More Convenience

The new joint venture allows for increased flight schedules, with a common goal of creating an unparalleled travel experience on Delta-operated flights and Air France-KLM branded ones alike. The expanded network is comprised of hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, London Heathrow, Minneapolis New York-JFK Paris that offer nonstop or one-stop connections across North America and Europe - connecting nearly every corner.

The combined airline will also offer more destinations to travelers from both North America and Europe - including some that don't currently exist at all - than is currently possible through any one airline alone; several routes have already been confirmed.

Flights to South Africa can be expensive, especially if traveling economy class, but with this partnership you can fly from Atlanta to Johannesburg using Delta's dynamic pricing for only 80,000 SkyMiles round trip! Plus, with their flexible prices even further discounted flights could become available!

Notable routes between Atlanta and Brussels include KLM's few daily flights from Brussels; with this partnership, connecting opportunities become significantly expanded; passengers with early US flights could use Amsterdam as a stopover and then take the train directly from Amsterdam to Brussels, thus opening up more possibilities than before.

Other initiatives will also be introduced this year, such as aligning schedules to reduce layovers and improving customer service from check-in to baggage claim. Soon enough, passengers will also be able to book flights across all four airlines either directly or using one app/website, linking their loyalty accounts.

Delta and KLM expanded their partnership only two years after first announcing it. That deal, secured with a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic, enabled their joint venture to establish itself and better position itself against rival airlines in the transatlantic market. Their new joint venture will offer customers larger networks, more competitive fares, frequent flyer benefits and enhanced connectivity; plus partners will collaborate on their fleets for seamless connectivity between aircraft.

2. More Choice

Delta and Air France-KLM aim to offer their customers the world's largest joint route network with convenient flight schedules and competitive fares. In addition, they plan to synchronize flight scheduling, offering standard services designed to reduce layover times and enhance airport experiences. Furthermore, co-location facilities will be established at key hub airports to create reciprocal frequent flyer benefits across Atlantic travel as well as access to each carrier's lounges for premium customers.

KLM, the Dutch airline, transports over 34.1 million passengers annually with its modern fleet of over 213 aircraft. KLM provides service to destinations throughout Europe and North America with particular focus on business centers and leisure markets; additionally it has connections to numerous cities within both countries such as Britain and Netherlands.

Delta's partnership with KLM and Air France will enable it to connect more cities within the US - particularly those outside its primary gateways - providing travelers with more travel options for all travel types. Furthermore, SkyTeam members now have more choice as they can earn or redeem miles on flights operated by any or all three partners with just one award ticket.

SkyMiles are also easier to use on international trips from the U.S. to Caribbean, Central America, Mexico as well as Africa and South America through this partnership. This will make the SkyMiles program attractive to those wanting to go beyond what the core Delta fleet reaches while limited by time or budget constraints.

Over the past several years, I've found it much simpler to book Delta flights directly than through one of its SkyTeam partners despite both airlines being part of the same alliance. This is likely because SkyTeam partners offer more seats at lower rates as well as being more accommodating when redeeming award certificates than Delta itself.

Though, it's important to keep in mind that when flying with partner airlines you will still earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). For instance, an economy class trip from Europe via KLM or Air France and connecting there with Delta could net 100 MQDs! This flexibility can come in handy when booking discounted sales to remote areas that Delta doesn't yet serve.

3. More Rewards

Delta and Air France-KLM will join forces in order to coordinate their schedules, shortening connection times on certain routes, offer more flight options to customers and co-locate facilities at key airport hubs like London Heathrow in order to improve connections.

The joint venture will offer an expansive codeshare network, so customers can earn and redeem SkyMiles on flights operated by all four airlines. Furthermore, Delta and KLM will co-locate lounges at Amsterdam airport for premium passengers; additionally elite members will gain access to additional benefits when flying airline partners such as priority check-in/boarding, preferred seats, waived checked baggage fees, as well as access to Delta's worldwide network of airport lounges.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian highlighted passenger experience as the cornerstone of their partnership. According to him, both airlines will "put customer experience at the core of everything they do", providing seamless connections, wider choices and access to some of the best frequent flyer benefits available.

Delta's alliance partners span much of the globe, giving you access to nearly any destination with SkyMiles. But be mindful that earning rates may differ depending on which partner airline is used - KLM and Air Tahiti both use revenue-based earning systems that award miles based on which fare class you purchase; typically this offers better redemption value as you'll gain more miles for less cost!

Other partnerships allow you to earn SkyMiles according to distance traveled. This could provide more value when redeeming awards on partner flights purchased through Delta Vacations since fare is often lower and you will accrue more Mileage Plan Disks towards Medallion status than flying directly with Delta metal.

Delta offers one of the most generous loyalty programs in business and continues to invest heavily in its network. Through their collaboration with KLM, Delta can expand their presence throughout Europe further.

4. Better Travel Experience

Delta and KLM say their partnership will allow for more frequent, convenient flight schedules and an enhanced travel experience - especially important during this era of increased security when they strive to provide customers with top-of-the-line services.

This agreement allows both companies to coordinate flights, fares and loyalty benefits across 110 transatlantic routes that connect hundreds of destinations in North America and Europe - as well as giving Delta SkyMiles members access to any Delta or Air France-KLM flight with just one ticket and one connection.

Delta claims it will offer more cost-competitive fares and greater flexibility for booking and changing award tickets, such as flexible change fees and earning miles when altering itineraries. In addition, new rewards and benefits such as priority boarding or free checked bags may become available to customers.

Delta and KLM will collaborate to improve customer service, sharing information and offering joint lounges. Customers will also have the ability to book transatlantic itineraries without incurring an extra premium for separate tickets.

Delta will add KLM's highly regarded economy class seats to its mainline fleet beginning with two aircraft in 2020 and gradually growing up to eight by 2022. They will be featured on Delta's A321neo aircraft which features wider seats that can accommodate more passengers.

KLM operates over 130 destinations around the world and boasts an expansive presence across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. KLM's hubs are Amsterdam Airport Schiphol as well as Delta's Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - where its Flying Blue frequent flyer program boasts over 74 million members!

Delta already enjoys codeshare agreements with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic, with plans underway to form a partnership agreement between them both. Furthermore, Delta enjoys partnerships with Aeromexico and Middle East Airlines as part of its SkyTeam global alliance membership.